Die



1937. E. A..GOULD 2,090,837

DIE

Filed k.- 15, 1935 INVENTOR Patented Aug. 24, 1937 STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to game pieces, particularly dice, and has for its principal object to provide game pieces of this character with internal monograms or other identifying insignia that are incorporated into the construction thereof.

It is also an important object of the invention to locate the insignia in such a manner that it appears as separate images in all faces of the dice, incidental to the bending of the light rays passing through the material from which the dice are constructed.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of dice embodying the features of the present invention, one of which has the corner thereof broken away to better illustrate its construction.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the block sections comprising one of the dice, shown in spaced relation prior to assembly, to better illustrate the placement of the insignia.

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged section through the joining faces of the blocks, particularly illustrating the inlay of the insignia and the cementitious material by which the sections of the dice are secured together.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a block section showing a modified form of the invention wherein the identifying insignia is formed on an insert that is inset within the contact face of the section.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates a die of cubical shape and having faces 2, 3, i, 5, 6 and l, carrying spots 8, as in ordinary die construction. The die is formed of transparent material of hard elastic character and having a substantially high degree of light refraction, such as celluloid. The die is composed of a plurality of sections 9 and I0, which, in the illustrated instance, are each dimensioned to form one-half of the completed die, and having flat contact faces ii and I2 adapted to be secured together by a cementitious material 13, which is also of transparent character, and preferably constituting a solution having aflinity for the material from which the die is constructed, so that when the block sections are secured together the juncture thereof will be substantially invisible.

The face of one of the block sections, for example, the face I2 of the section i0, is engraved with identifying insignia i l, for example the initials of the company producing the dice, or the monogram of the owner, and the engraving is preferably filled with a coloring material i5, which is preferably of opaque character and in contrast to the color of the die material, so that the letters embodying the insignia stand out clearly through the translucent material of which the die is composed.

In assembling the block sections 9 and ill, the faces H and I2 are coated with the cementitious material l3, and the blocks are pressed together so that the edges l6 of the face H register with the corresponding edges ll of the face I2 to form the cubical shape of a completed die. The side faces of the die are then provided with properly spaced depressions I8 that are filled with similar coloring material or enamel l9 to form the spots 8. The faces of the die are then polished so that the light rays pass therethrough and render the insignia clearly visible through any of the faces of the die. When the die is viewed from any one of the corners the refraction of the light rays causes the insignia to appear as separate images in each of the faces of the die in range of view.

The insignia, therefore, not only identifies the particular die, but enhances the appearance and lends to the attractiveness thereof. If desired, selected spots 8 may carry letters or figures 26, representing the serial numbers of the choc.

While I have particularly illustrated and described the die as being constructed of two block sections, it is obvious that it may be constructed of different sized blocks or it may be formed of three or more sections with insignia engraved in one of the contacting face portions of each section. It is also obvious that the insignia may be printed directly on one of the contacting faces of the block sections, or it may be applied to an insert 2|, as shown in Fig. 4.

In this form of the invention, the insignia is printed on a sheet of paper or like material having substantially the same specific gravity as the die material, and which is inset into a recess 22 formed in a contacting face 23 of a block section 24, in the manner of an inlay.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a die with an identifying mark, which is formed as a part thereof, and which lends to the attractive appearance of the die incidental to its location and the refractive character of the material from which the die is constructed.

By constructing the dice as thus described, a manufacturer is enabled, by the insignia to certify as to the squareness and accuracy of construction, and since the insignia is formed as an internal part of the dice it is not subject to tampering or change by unauthorized persons.

It is, therefore, obvious that any one acquainted with the insignia is assured of the quality of 5 the dice.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A die including a pair of transparent sections, each section being shaped to form one-half 10 of a cube and having contacting faces, identifying insignia on one of said faces and spaced inwardly from the marginal edges thereof, a transparent material between said contacting faces to secure said sections together to form a cube with the identifying insignia located in the center of the cube, and. spots on therespec-tive side faces of the cube, said insignia being readable through any of said faces at points intermediate the spots.

20 2. A die including a pair of transparent sections, each section being shaped to form onehalf of a cube and having contacting faces, identifying insignia engraved in one of said faces and spaced from the marginal edges thereof, a coloring material filling said engraving, a transparent material between said contacting faces to secure said sections together to form a cube with the identifying insignia located in the center of the cube, and spots on the respective side faces of the cube, said insignia being readable through any of said faces at points intermediate the spots.

3. A- die including a pair of transparent sections, each section being shaped to form onehalf of a cube and having contacting faces, identifying insignia inlaid between said faces and having its edges spaced from the marginal edges of said faces, a transparent material between said contacting faces to secure said sections together to form a cube with the identifying insigne located in the center of the cube, and spots on the respective side faces of the cube, said insignia being readable through any of said faces at points intermediate the spots.

ELMER A. GOULD. 

